New school site ‘not to blame for flooding’ in Jedburgh

Kathryn Wylie

Concerns over flooding and access roads at Jedburgh’s intergenerational community campus site were shared with contractors this week.

They come after flash flooding on August 1, led to muddy water stagnating on the Bongate, downhill of the Hartrigge Park site, where works began in May.

Raising the issue at Tuesday’s community council meeting, chairman Rory Stewart said: “There was an incident two to three weeks ago when we got a heavy spell of rain. A lot of people linked the flooding to the works up the hill.”

David Brodie, construction manager for BAM Construction, said: “The manhole was blocked and it blew. The council came out and cleared it. It didn’t come from the site. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency have been on site since then and they are happy. They gave us a few suggestions and we have put them in place.

“We’ve had a few days of heavy rain since then, and the water is running clear.”

Mr Brodie also allayed concerns about wagons using the Headrig to access the site and reports of damage to the Bountrees road.

He added: “We have told all our contractors the correct route, but some still do seem to get lost or get sent that way by satnavs.”

With regards to the Bountrees, he added: “I know for a fact that the road has deteriorated since we began taking wagons up there. We will need to speak to Scottish Borders Council about getting that repaired.”